Gutter Splint For Ingrown Toenail

Anesthetize the toe either by topical anesthetic or by nerve blocks not always necessary for mild cases.

Gutter splint for ingrown toenail.

This method requires anesthesia. A conservative method to gutter splint ingrown toenails ingrown toenails can be due to trauma improper nail cutting and or anatomic abnormalities of the nail apparatus. Conservative approaches for the treatment of ingrown toenails without infection include placing a cotton wisp dental floss or gutter splint with or without acrylic nail under the ingrown nail. Isolation of the nail plate from the ulcer bed using a gutter.

In the setting of normal anatomy they are usually treated conservatively but the presence of a sharp edge of the nail in the ulcer may prevent wound healing. Toenail splinting the referenced article describes splinting the toenail essentially lifting the offending edge of the toenail so subsequent growth does not push into the tissue. Isolation of the nail plate from the ulcer bed using a gutter shaped splint may improve healing. Herein we describe a more conservative gutter technique that is less traumatic and does not require anesthesia.

Physicians may apply a gutter splint to the ingrown nail edge by slitting vinyl intravenous tubing and cutting it to fit with one end cut diagonally for smooth insertion14 figure 2 8.